Two months ago, Bindi Irwin took to her Instagram to share a health update after 10 years of living in excruciating pain and experiencing extreme fatigue. Despite doctors finding nothing wrong for more than a decade, she finally received an answer when she was diagnosed with endometriosis at 24 years old.
The World Health Organization defines endometriosis as a ‘disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.’ Due to the long list of symptoms – which include severe pain in the pelvis and fatigue – it’s a hard disease to diagnose and many people are suffering without an answer.
On May 5, she took to Instagram again to let her fans know that her pain is now gone. “It has been a very long journey and a lot of challenges,” she said in the video. “And I can officially say that I’m finally feeling better, which is really extraordinary and something that I actually never thought that I would say.”
In the video, Bindi Irwin hoped to answer some of her fans’ questions regarding her diagnosis and the surgery that relieved her of the pain. She confirmed that it was around the age of 14 that the pain started and she has sought help before, but was told by doctors that it was all ‘just a part of being a woman.’
At that point, she decided to give up on her search for an answer and learned to live with the pain – though it wasn’t easy. After having her daughter, Grace Warrior, her symptoms magnified and started to interfere with her ability to be the best mother possible – so she decided to return to the doctor for tests.
Despite having practically every blood test possible – as well as CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds – she appeared to be healthy and doctors weren’t finding anything wrong with her. It wasn’t until she had exploratory surgery (a suggestion from a friend who had endometriosis) that the problem was diagnosed.
The surgery resulted in the removal of a chocolate cyst and 37 endometriosis lesions. While there was a bit of a recovery period, the pain was suddenly gone and she’s now back to running around freely with her daughter. She might need surgery once or twice more in her lifetime, but the trade-off is well-worth it.
Bindi Irwin is Using Her Story to Spread Awareness to Others
Bindi Irwin suffered for 14 years before doctors finally zeroed in on what was causing her pain and fatigue. Considering endometriosis affects roughly 10% (190 million) of reproductive age women and girls globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), she knows she’s not alone in that battle.
Symptoms of #endometriosis include:
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 18, 2023
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???? abdominal bloating & nausea
Learn more ????https://t.co/ALkx107985 pic.twitter.com/jaZMaiB5ED
That’s why she’s using her story to spread awareness of the disease. She wants other women with similar symptoms to know that what they’re feeling isn’t normal and urges them to get checked beyond what blood tests, CT scans, ultrasounds, and MRIs provide. It changed her life and it can change theirs too.
“It is really hard to get up every day and forge ahead. I feel for you there’s heaps of people searching for those answers. Don’t give up. Because you are so strong, I love you guys so much. Thank you,” she said during her video – adding she wants to see major changes in the way we diagnose and treat the disease.
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In the caption of the video, she thanked her brother, RobertIrwin, and mother, TerriIrwin, for sticking by her side throughout the surgery and recovery. She also thanked her husband, ChandlerPowell, and his family for keeping her daughter company throughout the process and her fans for their continued support.